Studi Potensi Thorium Pada Batuan Granit di Pulau Bangka

In Indonesia generally thorium was found in granite rocks. On the island of Bangka there are quite a lot of granite out crops such as Menumbing granite, Pelangas granite, Jebus granite, Pemali granite, Mangol granite, Bebuluh granite and Gadung granite. The distribution of the granites is extensive enough to be considered as a granite potential thorium. The aim of study is to determine the potential of thorium in granitic rocks located on the Bangka Island. The method used is a heavy mineral sampling of weathered granite rocks, then performed the measurement and analysis of thorium in the laboratory using X-Ray Fluorescence. Granitic rocks are considered potential thorium if thorium content has at least three times the normal levels of thorium in granite (15 ppm) and it has experienced highly weathered so easy to be mined. Results of the study showed levels of thorium in Gadung granite is 76ppm, Bebuluh granite is 23.33ppm, Mangol granite is 42ppm, Pemali granite is 35.40ppm, Jebus granite is 85.96ppm, Pelangas granite is 66.73 ppm and Menumbing granite is 67.03ppm. The observation of the physical condition in the field show that in general all granites have undergone strongly weathered. It was concluded that the potential of thorium granitic rocks are Jebus granite, Menumbing granite, Pelangas granite contained in the West Bangka regency and Gadung granite in South Bangka regency. Based on the data, Bangka Island possible of consideration in the development of thorium exploration.